Shields; A Historic Outlook of Origins

With the appearance of mankind on the earth, there has been a battle for quite a long time. From Abel and Cain to down the eras to the plethora of war, violence has been a trademark of humanity. The earliest humans frequently observed a desire to defend against personal threats. Subsequently, it led to the development of a shield. Some renowned cavemen of ancient times emerged with an idea for a personal defensive weapon and soon it caught on.

The buckler was invented as crude equipment and it was similar to other battle-ready weapons. Then, consistent modification enhanced the design and build. By medieval times, it had become a work of art. Because of unique form and function, the medieval shield served a central purpose in the military arsenal in particular.

The Material of Shield

Every shield was handcrafted for a particular function. People used a variety of materials to uniquely construct most of them. A few common materials used in the early medieval times were animal hide and wood. As soon as the Middle Ages progressed, a range of diverse metals became the topmost preferred material of the shield.

These optimized shields fit a particular purpose to the soldier who would use it. A soldier bearing heavy weaponry would typically carry a small and lightweight protective buckler. A knight in a complete suit of armor couldn’t carry a body-length shield. Likewise, a longbow archer wore very little armor to be more efficient on the field. On the other hand, an elaborate protection for archers used to provide them with the cover they required to restring their crossbows and darts.

The Evolution of Medieval Shield

The initial Middle Ages observed a crude form of armor and protection. Most of them were small and round objects that provided a minimal level of close-range defense. The frequent advancement in technology led to the development of new weapons and armor. Thus, a new metallic protection became the need. A wide range of forms and dimensions of the shield evolved for an explicit purpose. The addition of new features such as grips made them even more practical in warfare. Advanced techniques of battle consistently demanded modifications of the design.